Bad to the Bone Paperback – May 19, 2009

Addictive.... that is the best word to describe this series. You could also use words like hysterical, fast-paced, steamy, and sweet. Bad to the Bone was a great follow up to Wicked Game. The characters continue to be great and the plot was once again captivating. I was on the edge of my seat for the majority of this book and I had a very hard time putting it down, so I didn't.

Ciara (keer-ah) is a kickass heroine. She is the kind of character that is perfectly capable of taking care of herself and does not put up with anyone's crap. She is capable of delivering sarcastic comments even in the most dire of circumstances. She is trying to move beyond her con-artist past, but every now and then it pops back up. However, now she uses her con-artist powers for good rather than evil. She is not perfect, she has her flaws, but she also does her best to try and move beyond those flaws. She has commitment issues and the thought of being tied down frightens her. However, she knows this and she works to move past that and learns to put her trust in others that are worthy.

Shane has skyrocketed his way to the tippy top of my book boyfriend list. I love everything about him: from his flannel shirts to his guitar playing to his obsessive compulsive behavior to his music snobbery to his 90s slang, there is just something incredibly endearing about him. He is super sweet and protective without being overbearing and jealous like a lot of other male vampire love interests out there. Simply put, I adore him. For the past few days, everyone I come in contact with gets an earful of Shane McAllister. I have always had a soft spot for vampires, but Shane is better than most others out there. Actually, I would say he is better than all other vampires out there. I. WANT. ONE.

Shane and Ciara make a great couple. They complement each other nicely and it is clear that they are madly in love with each other. Also they make for some really great steamy scenes. While they struggle through the complications of a vampire-human relationship, they somehow manage to make it work. Ciara trusts him more than she trusts some humans. I also loved the addition of Dexter to this book. Dexter is a part lab, part Great Dane vampire dog. As someone who once had two Great Danes, Dexter was one of my favorite parts of the book. I love Ciara's love for dogs because it mirrors mine very closely.

Bad to the Bone continues this very original take on vampires. I love the way Jeri has crafted these vampires and I love the way each time period is represented. Also, the way they compensate for time moving forward with their obsessive compulsive behaviors is just brilliant. I loved the way Shane was constantly organizing everything in the apartment and I especially loved the list he left Ciara on the proper way to load the dishwasher. Bad to the Bone mixes the paranormal with mystery and romance seamlessly. All of these aspects flow together to create a truly great read.

Overall, Bad to the Bone is a book paranormal and urban fantasy fans really need to pick up. Fans of Sookie Stackhouse are sure to enjoy this series. Personally I think it is better. But anyway, my point is if you like books along those lines then you are sure to love this one.

Reformed con artist Ciara Griffen and her band of vampire DJs are back in the follow up to Wicked Game, and the second in the series doesn't disappoint!

The undead DJs' ongoing efforts to promote their station by 'coming out' with their true identity draws the attention of religious activists of the Family Action Network (FAN). When FAN hijacks their broadcasts and threatens her fanged charges, Ciara forms an uneasy alliance with The International Agency for the Control and Management of Undead Corporeal Entities to infiltrate the organization. Along the way, her relationship with sexy grunge vamp Shane McCallister becomes deeper and more complicated (especially when she meets his family), her own conniving-yet-charming father comes back with more unwelcome surprises, and...she picks up a vampire dog!

Reminiscent of classic X-files in the best possible way, this fast paced urban fantasy is definitely among my top ten favorites!

Bad to the Bone carries on where Wicked Game left off, introducing some new "baddies" and bringing back some old ones for a plot that has enough momentum to keep you frantically turning pages even when you're not getting your Shane and Ciara fix. Bad to the Bone is a chance to see your favourite conwoman-in-remission and grunge vamp roll with more punches as they face both internal and external threats to their relationship. And if they're not your favourites - why did you buy this book? Go back and get Wicked Game first!

Bad to the Bone is damn good fun. I found myself cheering for Shane and Ciara, and wincing at some of the funny-tragic moments. A laugh out loud moment for me was reading Shane's dishwasher instructions - but at the same time, Jeri Smith-Ready's depiction of OCD vampire behaviour is one of things that give her world building emotional impact. Some of the other vampires are fleshed out a little more in this book, highlighting both monstrous (Thanksgiving dinner!) and human elements.

My only criticism is these are never quite long enough... But that's me not wanting to leave the world Smith-Ready creates. I can't wait to read the next one.

~ Fiamme

Gotta love a story where vampires are pretending to be human pretending to be vampires. And the idea of getting a little stuck in the era in which they died is a nice twist. Love, blood, gore, redemption. What's not to like. Oh - and that's my daughter on the cover of these novels. Do you suppose there's something she hasn't told me?

I decided to read this series after it was recommend by another author that I love and I am so glad I did! I read the first book Wicked Games and then quickly purchased this book because I had to follow the characters and their stories. The characters are well built and the plot is intriguing. There is action, love, sorrow and pain! Starting the third book today!

In Maryland Ciara Griffin pretends to be the late owner Elizabeth of the vampire run radio station WVMP so she and her cohorts of vamps can keep working. In spite of the difficulty of the masquerade, Ciara feels upbeat as things are going well with her significant other vampire.

However, their special Halloween show is devastated by the Family Action Network (FAN) who steals their signal broadcasting an anti-vampire tirade. Irate Ciara and her cohorts including Dexter the vampire canine sneak into the FAN base of operations to bring the bite to the enemy.

The sequel to the brilliantly wacky WICKED GAME still has the vampires remain stuck in a time warp leading to quite a variety in the music played at WVMP, the "lifeblood of rock and roll". Ciara, though claiming she is a reformed con artist, is pulling off quite a sham pretending to be the dead owner. Amusing and as wacky as its predecessor, this time the vamps with a blood thirsty canine are at war with their FAN enemy as Jeri Smith-Ready lampoons urban fantasy taking a humorous bite out of the sub-genre.

Harriet Klausner